Drop step



Sept. 9, 1924. 1,507,792

M. PERKINS DROP STEP Filed Feb. 9, 1924 .v' T- V /0 1.- I, um 24 wHUI'w A if TTORNEK Patented Sept. 9, 19224.k

UNITED STATES DROP STEP.

applicati@ nea February 9, 1924. serial No. 691,617.

To all Iwhom t may concern:

j Be it known that MARY'PERKINs, a citizen of the United States,"y residing at Ypsilanti, in the county of l/Vashtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Drop Step, of which the following is a specification. f

My invention relates to a new and useful I improvement in a vdrop lstep adapted for use on passenger cars and the like with which ,it is necessary or desirable to'use afoot stool to afford a stepping member for passengers ahghtlng from and mounting to the g steps of the ca An object of the invention is'to provide a moveable step attached to the carI whichV may be moved out of positionvwhen desired and readily placed in operative position so as to eliminate the necessityl of using Jthe stepping member which isfdetached from the car. l Another object ofthe invention is the provision of a moveable step provided with means for quickly and easily moving it into and out of operative position and with means` for llocking the step in either position.A

Another object is the provision inia'device of this class of means for attaching the moveable step to the car so as to render it easily moved and atY the same time aord a rigidity of structure which will make the moveable step a strong and safe one for the purposes desired.. Y Other objects Will appear hereinafter. vThe invention consists inthe combination and` arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood from a reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which, i

Fig.A 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View showing the invention applied to a car,

F ig.y 2 is a side elevational view illustrating the supporting means used in the invention, 1

Fig. 3 is a central vsectional View of a set of steps showing the invention applied,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the locking means used in the invention, and,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on substantially line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

The invention is adapted forl use with a car 9 having steps 10, and in its preferred form comprises a step 11 having secured to opposite sides thereof a supporting member comprising va'substantially, U-shaped mem ber having the bight 12, thereof,which is fastened by suitable screwsor bolts -13 to the vstep 11, in angular relationV to :the legs 14 and 15. The legs 14 and l'are providedV respectively with elongated'slots 16and'17 in which engage, respectively, bolts 20 and` 20 whichare fastened' in the side wall 180i" the steps,fthere beingrposi'tioned betweenl the legs 14 and 15 and the wall 18 wear strips 19 and19 which are iliadefrom some-suitable metal. Projected through the wall18 is a bolt 21' having a loclr nutv 22 bearing against a washer 22'; "A nut 23"serves-to retain a 'handle 24 in position on a square portion of the bolt together with'a i leaf spring 25 which is bound to the handle'j intermediate its ends, by* a suitable clip 25'.,

The leaf spring 25 is attached at one end to a handle 26from which projects a stud V-27 Mounted on the member. 18, areabutment blocks 28 from each of which projects'fwings 28 through which bolts maybe passed to secure the blocks tothe member 18. Each of the blocks 28 is providedwith a pocket 29 inwhich the stud 27 `is adapted to engage.

An arm 30 is provided and curled t0 form a knuckle which embraces the bolt 2l at the center thereof, la suitableset screwfbeing projected through the knuckle to engage the` bolt 21 for preventing a turning of ythe knuckle about the bolt.v Secured to the freev end of the arm 30 is onefend of a spring 32, the opposite end of-which is secured to an angularly turned portion 35 of a strap 33'which has anotherangularly turned portion adapted to engage the undersurface Y of the step 11,' being attached thereto byl suitable screws. The armv 35 is atan angle to lieV in alignment withthe spring 32.`

Inv operation, when'the vstep 11 is moved to inoperative posi-tion, as shown in full linesv step 11 to engage theunder'surface ofthe lower permanent step ofi-thecar.V The stud 427 then engages in the pocket of the lower .abutment thus lsecurely locking the step in inoperative position. The leaf spring serves to force the stud into the pocket of the abutment and when it is desired to move the handle to effect a different positioning of the step 11 the handle is pulled outwardly from the wall 18 so as to disengage the stud from the pocke of the abutment.y Upon a turning of the handle the bolt 21 is turned, carrying with it the knuckle so as to cause the arm to swing. I/Vhen the handle is turned to place the step 1l in operative position the same is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and in Fig. 3. The handle then is again locked by the entry of the stud into the pocket of the upper abutment member. t

The structure as shown is considered to be a durable one and it is evident that the step may be quickly and easily moved from its different postions. I,Vhen the step is in inoperative position the spring 32 is under tension; and when the step is released for movement to operative position the same moves by gravity the weight of the step and its attachments being sufficient to effect this movement, although yif it is desired the spring may be dispensed with and an arm :used instead, connecting the arm 30, by a pivotal link arrangement to the portion 35.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofA structure I do not wish to limit myself tothe precise details of structure set forth but desire to avail iiiyself of such variations and modifications as come wit-hin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire .to secure by Letters Patent is: l

l. In combination with a vehicle having a plurality of steps, U-shaped` supporting members slideably mount-ed on opposite sides thereof, for upward and downward movement relatively thereto; an auxiliary step `carried by said supporting members; a rocker arm; means for attaching said rocker arm to said auxiliary step; a crank for operating said rockerarm for effecting upward and downwward movement of said auxiliary step; and spring Operated means mounted on said `crank for .locking said auxiliary step in either extremity of its movement 2. In combination with a vehicle having a plurality of steps, U-shaped supporting members slideably vmounted on opposite sides thereof7 the legs of said supporting members rhaving elongated slots formed therein; an auxiliary step .mounted on the bightrof said supporting members; ra rocher arm; means for roc-king said roel-:er arm; and means for connecting said auxiliary step to said rocker arm to permit the movement of said step to form an extension of said vehicle steps. y

8. In combination with a vehicle having a plurality of steps, an auxiliary step adapted for positioning beneath the lower one of said steps; supporting members for said in close'engageinent with Vthe under surfaceof the lower of said steps and for assisting a movement of said rocker Iarm from one position to vanother upon the release of said crank from said locking means.

4;. In combination with a vehicle having a plurality of ste-ps and side walls supporti ing said steps, an auxiliary step adapted for positioning beneath the lower of said steps; slideable ysupporting members mounted on said auxiliary step and adapted for slideable movement along the side Walls associated with said steps; al rocker shaftpositioned beneath said vehicle steps; a crank mounted on said rocker arm and adaptedl for rocking the saine; locking means mounted on saidside walls and adapted for engaging said crank at opposite extremes of movement of the same for locking the same against movement; a rocker arm fixedly mounted on said shaft intermediate its ends beneath said vehicle steps; and a spring havino one end thereof connected to the free end of said rocker arm and vhaving the opposite end thereof attached to said auxiliary step for effecting a `raising of said auxiliaryV step into close engagement with vthe under surface of said vehicle step'up'on the `movement of said rocker arm to one position,

said spring being adapted -for assisting-the movement of said rocker arm to another position upon the release of said crank by said locking means.

In testimony whereof I'have signed the foregoing,

IvIARY PERKINS 

